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Union-Republican Confusion

I’m little confused about why Republicans hate unions. Perhaps it would help if we examine a few (maybe three) conservative talking points currently circulating around the swamp we call national media.

First, Republicans claim government unions use their political clout to elect the politicians that set their pay. As a result, the unions are rewarded with high pay, great pension and health-care plans.

But, at the same time Republican business people use their political clout (mostly money) to elect politicians that set their taxes and regulate their industries. As a result, they are rewarded with low taxes and less regulation.

Second, Republicans claim that ending public sector collective bargaining would end the practice of “union bosses” strong-arming politicians for exorbitant benefits and absurd contract concessions.

This charge is leveled by a group of people who are well known for using strong-arm tactics of their own. From Intel using strong-arm tactics to keep AMD out of certain chip markets to the banks using strong-arm tactics to evict people from their homes the news is full of stories about the strong-arm tactics used by conservative organizations. (Oh, and specifically, just what are the “exorbitant benefits and absurd contract concessions”? I know of no billionaire sanitation workers or elementary school teachers.)

Finally, they claim when teachers choose not to teach purely to pad their already lavish contracts with taxpayer dollars they are violating a sacred public trust.

This claim comes from a private sector that is famous for the $345 hammer, the $640 toilet seat and the $7600 coffee maker – all sold to the government and paid for with tax dollars. This charge is leveled by a business community that has been shipping jobs overseas while enjoying the rights and privileges of citizenship here – all while some of the largest corporations pay no taxes. Public trust – give me a fracking break! (Oh, and by the way, do they really think our economic problems are the direct result of paying teachers too much? Lavish Contracts? Right!)

So dear reader, do you see my confusion? It seems Republicans hate unions for acting like, well, Republicans.